And With The Dawn Of True Peace

Several weeks after her return, Princess Luna takes an early morning stroll through Canterlot. Eventually coming to the Canterlot Orphanage, she finds Foggy Day filling some adoption papers. "Good morning."

The orphanage owner turns with a smile. "Good morning, Princess. What can I do for you?"

Luna returns it. "After everything that's happened, I needed a break. After hearing what you went through, I thought you could need some help."

Foggy nods. "I've still got to wake them but you're welcome to join us. Everypony's in a great mood after yesterday. You should have seen Art Crafts' face when he heard that he had been adopted."

Luna suppresses a giggle at the thought as Foggy leads her deeper into the building. Needless to say, the orphans are very surprised to be woken up by a Princess. When they reach the last room though, Foggy gestures inside with a smile. "You can take this one."

Smiling, Luna gently opens the door to find herself in a strangely designed room. There are visible grooves at key points in the wall and some furniture, each distinctively different in depth and curvature, and any sharp or pointed surface like the dresser has either been filed into bluntness or covered over. Ignoring the weird design, Luna walks over to the bed. "Time to get up, little one." When the lump in the duvet grunts but doesn't move, she chuckles and gently pulls back the cover. "I know you're tired but it's 8-"

When she looks down at the very small Pegasus, Luna’s voice dies in her throat and the colour drains from her face. No, I'm dreaming. I have to be dreaming. This is all just- She casts a spell to dissolve the nightmare but nothing happens. It's just a coincidence, she just looks like her. Plenty of ponies can look like each other. There's absolutely no way that it's- When she checks the Pegasus' magical signature though, Luna can’t stop shaking as tears involuntarily drip from her face. What... What the buck is this?! Am I finally losing it?! Is this another of Discord's sick jokes?! As if she's telepathic, the Pegasus opens her dark blue but completely clouded over eyes. Princess Luna's heart skips several beats. She can’t breathe.

The filly's eyes seem to focus in Luna's vague direction. "Hewo, miss. I don't think we've met. Are yew a friend of Foggy?" Luna just barely holds in a sob when the filly speaks in a voice she never thought that she'd ever hear again.

At that moment, Foggy enters the room with a smile. "Ah, I see you woke up-"

"Midnight Breeze."

Foggy blinks. "Yes. Have you met?"

The sight of Princess Luna herself crying turns Foggy’s stomach. "I-I-I... I'm sorry to leave so soon but i just remembered that Queen Void asked to see me after breakfast. Please have a good day." Princess Luna quickly shakes Foggy's hoof before flying away as fast as possible.

An hour later, Luna's Tower

Scootaloo looks confusedly at the magically sealed door. "Any idea what happened, Penumbra? What could shake Princess Luna so badly? I've never heard of her getting like this."

Penumbra looks at the door with equal worry. "We'll find out shortly but what she really needs right now is somepony to talk to."

Nodding, Scootaloo gently knocks on the door through which they can hear barely audible mumbling and the sound of intense pacing. "Princess Luna?"

At that, the pacing and mumbling stops as the door slowly opens to reveal Luna with a very forced smile. "Yes, Scootaloo? What can I do for you?"

Scootaloo gives her a concerned look. "We saw you rush up here in a panic. Are you okay?"

Luna flashes a disarming grin but Scootaloo clearly isn't buying it. "Please come in." They do so and take a seat as Luna looks at Penumbra. "Do you remember Midnight Breeze?"

A look of dawning realisation, worry and confusion passes over Penumbra's face. "Of course I do."

Luna becomes visibly nervous. "I-I saw her in the orphanage. She looks just like she did back when..." She trails off for a moment. "I thought it was just a dream but it wasn't. I thought it was just a coincidence that she looks the same but her magic's identical and she even has the same name. Once she opened her eyes and spoke though, I knew it was her. I don't know how s- I didn't think I'd ever- After she-"

Luna repeatedly chokes on her own voice so Scootaloo looks at a completely shocked Penumbra. "Who is she? What happened?"

Penumbra looks at Scootaloo sadly. "Remember how I said that Princess Luna had other reasons for going insane than just jealousy?" The filly nods. "There's a reason why I never showed you exactly what I meant. It's a deeply personal reason for Luna and it wasn't my place to say. What happened to Midnight Breeze and how it was handled finally pushed her over the edge."

Scootaloo's eyes go wide as Luna swallows. "I guess it would be best if I explained, wouldn't it?" She takes a deep breath before starting.

One thousand, one hundred years ago

The Castle of the Two Sisters

After another day's sleep, Luna stretches out to prepare for another night and heads downstairs. Upon entering the throne room, she finds Princess Celestia wrapping up day court and being thanked for saving Equestria. A very strong sense of anger flairs up in Luna for a moment until it calms as Celestia turns with a very happy smile. "Good e'en, Lulu. Is it that timeth already?" Luna rolls her eyes as they head to the dining room.

Four hours later, the edge of the Everfree Woods

After another long and tedious night court, Luna forgoes her usual dream patrol as she storms into the Everfree. Calling us, US, a tag-along assistant to Celestia. An we could just get our hooves on him, we'd- She stops and stares at a bizarre sight before getting closer. Sure enough, a small dark blue Pegasus filly that can't be any older than three is sitting on the edge of the Everfree staring up at the Moon with unmistakable wonder. "Excuse us, ist thou sure that thou should be-"

She stops abruptly as the filly turns and holds back a gasp at the unfocused, completely misted over eyes that stare back at her blankly. "Hewo mwiss, are yew havin' a good night?"

Recovering from her surprise, Luna approaches the blind foal as she turns her gaze back to the sky. "'Tis not a bit late for thou? 'Tis gone midnight. Thou should art asleep."

The Pegasus giggles. "I no but I woke to sneak ow-tat night too enjoy nuh moonlight. I carn't see it but's nice to know it's there evewy night."

Princess Luna is taken aback but an enormous happy smile grows across her face. Finally! Somepony that appreciates our night for the beauty it is! Before she can speak again, the Pegasus stretches out and gets up. "I gotta get back hwome, miss. I don't want them worryin' bout me and stoppin' me fwom enjoying the night."

Luna nods. "Where doest thou live?"

"The Everfree Orphanage." Luna's face falls but the filly smiles. "I'm Midnight Bweeze. Wot's your name?"

Luna thinks for a moment about how to answer. "We are Luna."

The following night

As with the night before, Luna storms out of the castle after another backhanded insult to return to a clearing with a perfect view of her astral body. To her surprise, she finds Midnight also there looking into the sky as before. As she approaches, the Pegasus turns her head wistfully at the sound of her hooffalls. "Back agwen, Luna? I thought yew woodst be. Yew seem to wike the night two."

Luna walks over to the orphan and sits down as well. "Thou could sayest that. Pray tell, what caught thy eye about the night so much?"

She winces at her poor choice of words but Midnight giggles. "I guess, I can just... understan' it. Evah since I was weelly wittle, I've only known darkness so I feel cwose to it."

Luna feels her heart bleed for the filly but Midnight speaks again. "Dew you think Pwincess Luna would wike to know about this?"

Luna smiles. "We know that she would art delighted to seeth somepony that enjoys her night." The filly giggles as they look up at the Moon together.

A few days later

After a few more of thier midnight meetings, the two have become close friends though Luna still hasn't disclosed her royal status yet. "And to thy immediate left is Lion Sword, a constellation invented to showcase the impressive abilities of the greatest swordsman in history."

Midnight ooes as she imagines what it could look like but soon sighs as she gets up to leave. "Goodnight, Luna."

As Luna returns the farewell and Midnight makes the short journey back to the Orphanage, the Princess of the Night jumps as she hears a familiar chuckle. "We trust that thou hast been having a good night, Luna?"

She glares upwards at Celestia who smiles cheekily. "Should thou not art in bed? 'Tis past thou's own bedtime as well."

Her sister just laughs. "We overheard the Royal Guards talking about thou leaving in between night court and thy dream duties and not returning for over an hour. We decided to investigate and we think it is sweet."

Luna scowls. Note to self; reinstate decimation as a punishment for gossiping about our private business. "What we doeth in our spare timeth is none of thy business. We simply found somepony that appreciates our night for what it is."

Celestia just laughs harder before landing beside her sister. "We seeth that she doth not know who thou really are."

Luna shakes her head. "We did not want her to fear us or treat us differently just because of our status. To her, we are just a normal pony."

Celestia looks at her sister sadly. “We are afraid that that wilt not last for long. Everfree Elementary is visiting the Castle tomorrow and shalt be meeting the both of us. Midnight Breeze’s name is on the guest list." Instead of receiving a response, she watches Luna flinch and bolt.

Late afternoon, the Throne Room

After a few extra hours sleep, both Princesses sit on thier thrones awaiting the school trip. Luna however is looking antsy despite trying to hide it behind a calm expression. "What is wrong?"

The Sovereign of Sleep sighs. "We hast been lying to Midnight for almost two weeks. We doeth not know how she wilt react when she finds out who 'Luna' really is."

Celestia chuckles. "She wilt art fine. Thou art still the same pony she befriended; thou just haven't been telling the entire truth."

Luna nods doubtfully as the throne room doors open to reveal the procession of ponies with Midnight visible directly behind the teacher. "Good afternoon, mine little ponies. We trust that thou hast had a good day so far." All thirty foals nod happily.

Princess Luna steels herself. "Princess Celestia and ourselves wilt lead the tour. Please doeth not wander off. We doeth not want to hast to looketh for thou." As Celestia takes the lead, Luna looks over at Midnight to see a look of unbridled shock on the filly's face.

As the tour continues, Luna doesn't get a chance to pay much attention as she is busy helping guide the tour. When it comes to an end though, Midnight briefly stays behind instead of going home so Luna walks over. "Yew wied to me." It isn't a question.

Luna sighs. "So many ponies judge us just because of who we are that we were afraid of how thou'd react. Thither are not many that admire our night and most shun it. I was worried that our reputation would scare thou aroint." She hangs her head. "We art sorry."

Midnight giggles. "I may not be able to see but I noah good pony from a bad wun, Pwincess Luna. See you tomowow night." With that, she rejoins her class with a newfound spring in her trot.

A month later, the Castle's Dining Room

For the first time in a while, the two Princesses are able to enjoy some time to themselves as they enjoy a nice tea together. When Celestia catches Luna counting down the hours, she giggles. "Somepony is excited."

Her sister lets out a happy sigh. "Every since she learnt who we really are, Midnight and ourselves hast only gotten closer." She frowns confusedly. "For about three weeks though, we've just had this strange feeling liketh we need to protect her. She has told us stories of how ponies develop an interest in adopting her but they move on after learning of her disability. They doeth not e'en bother meeting withal her first, they just pass her over without a second thought. 'Tis crushing us inside and we want her to hast the life she deserves."

Celestia laughs fondly. "Thither is always the chance that thou could adopt her thyself, Lulu. Thou art more than capable of caring for her."

Princess Luna sighs. "We cannot. Between our duties and our sleep schedule, we would ne'r art able to give her the attention that she deserves."

Celestia gives her a sly smirk. "Thou could always cancel night court. ‘Tis mostly nobles complaining and begging for thier own benefit which is nought that we cannot handle ourselves. Thou can still use night-time to protect our little ponies' dreams as Midnight is asleep."

Luna looks down. "E'en an we did, 'tis possible that this is not right for her. Being the youngest royal, as well as the only one of us not to art an alicorn, wilt draw her much unwanted attention and we hast nay experience withal motherhood."

Celestia wraps a wing around her sister. "The fact that thou art thinking of all these things solely for her benefit proves that thou would'st make a fantastic mother. Thou love her and she clearly admires thou so it would art an excellent gift. It is thy decision Luna but we wilt help thou however we can." With that, she goes to bed and leaves Luna with her thoughts.

Four months later

Princess Luna signs her name on a thick stack of forms before a judge. "Congratulations, Princess Luna. Thou art officially Midnight Breeze's mother."

Luna holds in a squeal of delight, wipes away some tears, takes the papers and bolts for the Everfree Clearing where she finds Midnight waiting. "Good evening, Pwincess Luna."

Luna sighs regretfully. "Good e'en to thou too, Midnight. We art sorry but we are not able to seeth thou again for another week."

Her heart strains as she sees the disappointed look on the filly's face. "W-eye?"

Luna is thankful that her daughter can't see the scowl on her face. "Celestia asked us to act as Equestria's voice in a talk withal the Griffons. An thou art going to still come out hither at night, please art careful."

Midnight smiles. "I understan' Pwincess. Pwincesses need to look after us." She looks up at Luna. "You're a gweat friend Pwincess. I don't know why everypony else doesn't wike yew. You make me swo happy." Before Luna knows what's happening, she finds herself tightly hugged by her daughter. "I love yew, Pwincess Luna." Before she can respond or return the hug, Midnight is already gone; leaving her mother standing there with a tearful smile.

The present

Scootaloo gazes in awe at Princess Luna who looks absolutely miserable. "Those were the last words she ever said to me. I wanted to leave her adoption as a surprise for the next day at the orphanage but it was delayed by the negotiations. When I returned-"

She violently chokes on her own voice before she can continue so Penumbra steps in. "I think I should take over from here, Princess." Luna nods so Penumbra continues for her.

One thousand, one hundred years ago

The entrance to the Castle of the Two Sisters

After the week long negotiations with the Griffons that ultimately went nowhere, Princess Luna strolls back into the Castle with an indignant scowl. A week aroint and all I hast to bewray for it is a sore throat. Pathetic. An i could hast just- She stops as a Lunar Guard hurries over. "Princess Luna, Midnight is in hospital. She-" Before he can finish, Luna is already gone.

Presently, the Everfree Hospital

Nurse Aider is manning the front desk on a very slow night when Luna bursts in. "Where is Midnight Breeze? Is she okay? What happened?"

Knowing that speaking will only waste time, Nurse Aider leads Princess Luna to a room. "She is inside." After taking a medical file from the nurse and nodding her thanks, Luna enters slowly.

The room itself is unremarkable as far as hospitals go but Luna is too focused on the ventilator bound filly on the bed. She feels her breath catch in her throat as she looks over her unconscious daughter and sits down beside the bed. "We-we are sorry that we were not hither when thou needed us most. We should hast been but our sister decided to waste our timeth. We promise, when thou pulls through, we wilt make thou the happiest filly in equestria. Thou wilt ne'r want for anything ever again." Of course, her daughter doesn't respond so she takes the time to read the medical report.

Patient Name; Midnight Breeze.
Race; Pegasus.
Sex; Filly.
Parents; Unknown (Orphan). Princess Luna (Adopted Mother).
Birthdate; August 28th 996 ADC.
Age; Three years, four months.
Height; 2 hooves.
Weight; 180lbs.
Home address; Everfree Orphanage.
Assigned Doctor; Dr. Blood Bank.
Diagnosis; Stage 1 Wing Rot.

Luna feels violently sick at the last sentence as all colour leaves her face. P-please, d-dear C-Celestia n-no. A-anything b-but t-that. She has seen the effects of Wing Rot first-hoof and watched it reduce some of the strongest stallions that she has ever known to lifeless husks fighting to survive. The only cure is immediate amputation of the wing at the joint and then just hoping for the best. Stage 1 is the worst kind of Wing Rot because it's already beyond curing by the time that it's detectable since the poison will have already spread to the bloodstream. Only Commander Hurricane has ever been known to survive it.

"I'm sorry, Princess." Luna jumps as she looks up to see Nurse Aider standing over Midnight, checking the equipment. "She was found liketh this three days ago by Princess Celestia. We hast given her what we can but nought worked."

Luna nods as she sees the telltale mould-like growth subtly climbing across her daughter's stomach and chest. "We-we were going to tell her that we adopted her, that she finally had a mother that loved her, that she would ne'r art alone again but were sent to Griffonstone before we could. We only returned fifteen minutes ago and now looketh at her." Sensing that she needs some alone time, Nurse Aid quietly finishes her final checks before leaving them alone.

As hours pass, nothing changes with Midnight staying unconscious and Luna stroking her hoof through her daughter's mane mournfully. Even as dawn approaches and the time to lower the Moon grows closer, Luna pays it no mind as she watches her daughter desperately fighting for her life. We hast tried every spell that we know but nothing's working. We cannot lose her, w-we don't know what we'd doeth an she...

As she bites back tears, she watches a strange shadowy substance ooze under the windowsill. Immediately suspecting Sombra, she gets into a protective stance and her hoof goes for the nurse call button. "Nay need to overreact. I am hither to help thou."

Luna glares at the vague silhouette of a mare's head. "And wherefore would we accept help from thou? Begone!"

The presence looks meaningfully at the young Pegasus who's now grunting in pain and visibly straining. "Because what I offer wilt save her life. All we hast to doeth is merge together."

Luna charges a magical blast. "How stupid doeth thou think we are?! Thou wishes to use us just as a vessel to doeth evil. Leave or thou shalt regret it."

The shadow sighs. “I am sorry for thy loss." With that, the substance drifts back out through the window as Luna glares after it.

When she turns back to Midnight however, Luna begins panicking at the sound of an alarm. ”NURSE!!! NURSE!!!!!!!!”

An hour later, the Throne Room

Princess Celestia has just settled down for day court when the throne room doors are thrown open to reveal a distraught Princess Luna. "Luna? What 'tis wrong?"

Luna doesn't even look up and just thousand-yard-stares at the base of the throne. "Midnight Breeze... She... We..."

Celestia's face falls into a mournful frown. "Luna, we are so sorry."

As Luna thinks though, she remembers Nurse Aider said. She was found like this three days ago by Princess Celestia.

As Celestia seems to realise what she's thinking, Luna turns her gaze to the solar monarch who cringes at the intense pain visible in her sister's eyes. "Thou-thou knew all along what was happening. Thou knew she was potentially minutes aroint from death and thou ne'r told us." Tears begin to drip from Luna's eyes as pain creeps into her voice. "Thou did not e'en send a message telling us what was happening. We only found out from one of our own Guards."

Celestia looks at her sister regretfully. "Luna, I thought that thou would'st not hast been able to get hither before she passed. Thou had such a long way to come and those negotiations were im-"

"THOU NE'R E'EN TOLD US THAT OUR OWN DAUGHTER WAS DYING!!!"

Celestia flinches at the full use of the Canterlot Voice as Luna heaves with anger. "And what was thou doing instead?! thou slept whilst thou's own niece layeth dying. Thou slept instead of trying to find a way to help thou's own flesh and blood. Thou slept as thy own family was taking thier last breaths from a horrible disease. Thou slept as thou's own sister's life fell apart before her eyes. Thou slept and hid thy niece's condition from thou's own sister!!!"

After a few deep breaths, Luna's face becomes dangerously neutral. "Thou know what the last thing she said to us was? she said that she loved us. an we had been hither, and not wasting timeth withal negotiations that thou knew would hie nowhere, we could hast helped her. We could hast saved her and given her the life that she rightfully deserved."

Although her sister's tone is even, the intensity behind it worries Celestia even more. "Luna, thither is nought either of us could hast done. Nought could hast saved her e'en an we had years to search."

Luna glares at her sister. "Thither was a way and thou know it."

Celestia doesn't respond; knowing that nothing she could say will do anything other than make Luna angrier. Her silence however causes Luna to let out a slightly unhinged laugh. "Oh, but that is it not it? thou would not e'en save those thou supposedly care about because thou art afraid of other ponies judging thyself. Of them thinking that thou has favourites. such a shame that thou wilt not e'en help us just so thou can maintain thy own image."

Luna's eyes fill with anger as Celestia begins to realise how big a mistake she made. "And now, we hast to art lonely and miserable for the rest of timeth because of thou's rules. And whilst we're miserable, thou gets everything thou could ever want or need. thou gets all the recognition whilst we're barely acknowledged, thou's day is loved whereas ours is ignored, thou gets to art loved and respected whereas we're feared and hated, thou gets to art happy whereas we just hast to sitteth and rot whilst nopony cares!"

Celestia looks at her own sister warily. "Luna, thou know that we cannot control-"

"Only because thou decided to give aroint that power." She takes a breath but her next words sound broken. "Perchance we should just accept that nopony besides midnight gives a buck about anything we wilt ever doeth? That nopony likes our beautiful night? that thou could hast saved thou's own niecefrom a horrific death but did not because of some rules thou invented? Because thou decided that we shouldn't govern who is worthy of ascension and we've lost hundreds of fantastic ponies? That we clearly doeth not deserve to art happy and should just hie and die in a hole somewhere? that nopony cares about us in any way whatsoever?" Before, Luna would have realised the absurdity of her c!aims but her longstanding jealousy and resentment have boiled over into her grief to make her irreconcilable.

Celestia tries to approach her younger sister who is in very visible pain. "Luna, we care about thou."

She is stopped almost immediately when Luna looks up with absolute pure hatred in her eyes. "Yeah, thou cares about us so much that thou destroyed any chance of us ever being verily happy. All thou care about is thyself and thy own power. Thou wilt e'en let thy own family suffer an it means that thou keeps us all under thy hooves forever. we refuse to hark to thou's lies anymore!"

Princess Celestia watches in horror as an oily substance slinks in from underneath the door and merges with Luna who suddenly grows to be just as big as her. As her deep purple fur turns black and her wings more bat-like, her set of armour floats down from her tower and fuses to her. When Luna opens her eyes again, all Celestia sees is pure insanity raging within. "L-Luna?"

Her sister? throws back her head with a long, hard cackle. "Thou killed Luna when thou killed Midnight. We are Nightmare Moon, the real Princess of Equestria. The one who deserves to rule Equestria without thyself."

Celestia's heart sinks. "Luna, please doeth not doeth this. I know that thou art in pain but i can help thou. Thou can get through this."

Nightmare Moon releases a chillingly cold chuckle. "Wherefore doest thou think that we want thy help?! Looketh at where we got the last timeth we listened to thou's counsel. We hast ne'r been doing better now that we do not hast to hark to thou ever again."

Before Celestia can respond, her sister grins insanely. "What better way to honour Midnight than by making night eternal? She loved the night just as much as we doeth and other ponies wilt hast to enjoy it then."

Celestia stamps a hoof firmly. "That is enough! Thou art hurting but thou can not make our little ponies suffer for it!"

Nightmare Moon just gives her a dirty look. "The same ponies that shunned our night? That shunned us? That hate us for who we are? That shunned our daughter and refused to love her just because of her disability? They deserve what is coming to them. We wilt give them a reason to fear us."

Princess Celestia gets into a cautious stance. "Please Luna, stop. This is not what Midnight would hast wanted. She would want thou to art happy."

Instead of her sister seeing reason, Celestia has to jump aside as Nightmare Moon unleashes a blast powerful enough to leave a five foot crater and annihilate the throne.

"NEV'R MENTION HER NAME AGAIN!!! THOU KILLED HER SO WE WILL RETURNETH THE FAVOUR!!!"

Nightmare Moon's anger and hatred is so strong that it begins to manifest as midnight black shadows that plunge the room into complete darkness. As this happens, the door bursts open to reveal the horrified Captain of the Guards accompanied by the two door guards. "P-P-Princess?!"

Celestia turns her gaze to the unicorn. "Evacuate the castle."

He bolts just as an energy blast nearly takes off Celestia's wing and only misses when she rolls. "What 'tis wrong, dear sister? Can thou not bring thyself to fight the one whose life thou destroyed?" Celestia's heart sinks as she realises what she has to do and bolts for the side entrance. "Pathetic."

And so the chase begins, Nightmare Moon trying to repeatedly take out Princess Celestia's various limbs which are only evaded by countering blasts or dodging. As they go, the Castle of the Two Sisters is gradually reduced to a barely standing ruin around them. Eventually however, the chase terminates in a special chamber where Nightmare Moon seals the windows shut. "Thither, now thou hast got nowhere to run." When Celestia hesitates for a moment, Nightmare blasts her backwards into the wall. "FIGHT US!"

"I am sorry that i hast to doeth this, Luna." As Nightmare Moon builds another blast, Celestia reveals six very recognisable items from a tree painting behind her. When the blast is unleashed, a protective field around Celestia deflects it out through the wall. "Please doeth not make us doeth this."

Instead of finally seeing through the madness, Nightmare Moon just snarls. "Thou hast not got it in thyself to permanently banish us, Celestia. Someday, we'll returneth and finally makest thou pay."

Celestia looks at her corrupted sister with tears in her eyes. "We promise Luna, we wilt find a way to save thou. We hope that, one day, thou wilt art able to forgive us."

As the Elements charge up, Nightmare Moon closes her eyes with tears beginning to drip down her face. Midnight, we are sorry.

The present day

By the end, Luna has completely broken down. "I-I failed her. I failed my own daughter, I failed Celestia and I failed Equestria. I let my anger and grief get the better of me and it nearly cost everypony everything." She looks out the window in the direction of the orphanage. "I guess it was for the best in some ways. If she had found out who I became, I don't want to imagine her r-reaction."

Scootaloo looks sadly at her friend. "But she's here now, you saw her. You can make things right."

Luna shakes her head. "There's no way it could have been her. I watched her d-die right in front of me. I watched her take her last breath as I sat there being absolutely worthless. It's just a coincidence that they look the same; it's bound to happen over a thousand years. Maybe I was mistaken when I searched her magic signature and it was just me seeing what I wanted to see." She swallows a lump in her throat. "Maybe fate finally decided to give me the punishment I deserved. An eternity of mourning and regret followed by eventual banishment to Tartarus. I spent so much of my life making everypony miserable so I'll never see Midnight again and be able to tell her how close she came to having a family."

Penumbra approaches with a smile. "Luna, that filly you saw is Midnight Breeze."

The Princess of the Night's neck audibly snaps as she stares at the being. "What did you say?"

Penumbra adopts a mystical look. "In all the time that I've existed, I lost many creatures I came to care about. Over time however, I found them again whether they were in the bodies of Ponies, animals, Dragons, Donkeys, Griffons, Minotaurs, Zebras, Yaks or Changelings. Starswirl eventually helped me to understand that bodies decay and die but a pony's inner magic is eternal; it can't ever truly fade. The body can change but who they are on the inside doesn't. She won't remember her past life but that is your daughter."

Luna looks down. "I tried to kill Tia because of one mistake that she made and things completely outside of her control. Midnight must hate me."

Scootaloo walks closer. "If she knows what you did then she knows that you've changed. You're not the same pony you were when you tried to hurt Princess Celestia. Look at how you helped me for example when I was having those nightmares. If you were the same as you were back then, you'd have just gone through the motions but you didn't. You could have just dispelled the nightmare out of obligation and left but you didn't. You offered kind advice that ultimately changed my life forever."

Luna looks regretful. "Even so, the entire reason that I came to love her was incredibly shallow. She loved my night and I clung to that in the worst part of my life. i only wanted to adopt her so that I'd never be without that feeling. It wasn't love, it was selfish and pathetic greed. I'm not the mother she deserves. She deserves somepony who will never stop loving her. She needs somepony that will always have her best interests at heart and will do anything to look after her until the day she dies."

Scootaloo looks at her reassuringly. "The fact that you reacted so strongly when she died, and your reaction earlier, say otherwise. It may have started as desperation but you grew to love her much more than that. What you felt was the grief of a loving mother, not a completely irredeemable monster that was one step away from snapping. If you didn't really love her, if she was just an escape from your depression, would you have reacted so strongly today? When you know you have ponies who care about you and your night?"

Luna thinks in silence for a moment before shaking her head as Scootaloo smiles. "You'd make an incredible mother, Princess Luna. Above all else, Midnight needs a mother that will always love and protect her; you're perfect."

Luna smiles as she gives Scootaloo a hug. "Thank you, I needed that." Her expression turns contemplative. "I wonder, if she's still the same pony she was a thousand years ago..."

Penumbra smiles. "Only one way to find out."

Later that night, the Everfree Forest

Even after so long, Luna remembers her way to the clearing by instinct. Despite being surrounded by trees on all sides and overgrown, the spot still has a wide parting in the canopy where the Moon is plainly visible. Luna feels her heart soar as she sees a familiar figure sitting directly in the moonlight. "Hewo again, you're the one from this morning awen't yew?"

Luna trots over and smiles. "Yes, I'm sorry if I was rude this morning. I thought that I... saw a ghost."

Midnight lets out a familiar laugh. "Wot's your name? I'm Midnight Bweeze."

Princess Luna's smile gets even wider. "Call me Luna."